IT’S the end of an era for one Hampshire councillor.

Godfrey Olson, the longest serving councillor in the country, has revealed he will not be seeking re-election this year.

After 61 years the Conservative councillor has officially announced he won’t be facing the polls for Eastleigh Borough Council when his term of office ends in May.

It comes a year after the Hiltingbury East ward councillor received an award for his long-standing service at the mayor-making ceremony.

Cllr Olson said: “I am very appreciative of the residents of Chandler’s Ford and Hiltingbury who have supported me over the past 61 years. I wish to extend my thanks to all the colleagues that have served with me and to the staff of Eastleigh Borough Council for their help and courtesy during my time on the council.

“I wish Dan Hatfield who is standing in Hiltingbury East good luck and every success in the election to be held on May 5.”

Cllr Olson has been a major part of the community, having been awarded an OBE for his work over the past six decades. The councillor has never, to the best of his knowledge, even missed a full council meeting.

Cllr Olson has been on the borough council since 1955 and last year said he had no plans to retire.

He has said that it’s down to the people of Eastleigh that he has been able to set the incredible benchmark of service, during which time he has served two periods as the leader for 10 years from 1976 and three years from 1990.

Cllr Olson performed the office of mayor three times in 1961/1962 under a Labour administration, 1976/1977 under a Tory one and 1997/1998 under Liberal Democrat leadership.

The grandfather-of-two initially joined the Eastleigh Young Conservatives after he returned from two years national service in Singapore with the army and wanted to reconnect with people in the area.

After failing in his bid to win Eastleigh South in 1951, he became more determined and went on to win the Chandler’s Ford seat four years later in his early 20s.

He competed for the Southampton Itchen parliamentary seat in 1964, but lost to Labour’s Dr Horace King who went on to be Speaker of the House.

Cllr Olson juggled his duties with his job as an estate agent for 37 years.

He has admitted that his dedication to attending meetings, something instilled in him at the beginning, has at times dictated his diary.

Now in his 80s, he has said his proudest achievements while on the council included his part in transforming gravel tracks into proper roads in Hiltingbury and helping to bring about Hiltingbury Infant and Junior schools, the Swan Shopping Centre and the town’s first hotel.

Conservative councillor, Judith Grajewski, said: “I wish to express my congratulations and appreciation to Godfrey Olson for his outstanding service to local government and to Eastleigh Borough Council.

“Godfrey was very much my mentor in local government and I learned a great deal from him and am deeply in his debt. He was a truly great councillor. I have long forgiven him putting me on the allotments committee as my first committee. I wish him a long and happy retirement."